Trinity Episcopal Church shares Christmas Eve service schedule
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PARKERSBURG -- Trinity Episcopal Church will celebrate Christmas Eve with two services.
The late service -- a traditional Anglican service with choir, organ and additional instruments and -- begins at 10:30 p.m. with a musical prelude, followed by the Festival Midnight Mass at 11 p.m.
The musical prelude, under the direction of Marie Mallory, organist and director of music at Trinity, will include a variety of choral, vocal and instrumental selections:
* "Prepare the Way, O Zion" by Matthew Weaver
* "A Maiden Most Gentle" arranged by Andrew Carter
* Handel's "Rejoice Greatly" from "Messiah" by soprano Daisy Lawrence
* "I Saw Three Ships" arranged by James Kirkby
* "In the Bleak Midwinter" arranged by Dan Forrest
* Aiden Shreves, piano
* Appalachian medley of "Judah's Land" and "Lovely Child, Holy Child," with instrumental accompaniment by Paul Miller, Mallory and Darin Lawrence on tin whistle, hammer dulcimer and mandolin
* "Sussex Carol" arranged by Elaine Hagenberg.
Additional musicians are Nathan Thornton, piano, and Catherine Martin, director.
The Festival Eucharist service, led by the rector, Father Geoffrey Mackey, begins with a candle-lighting and the singing of 鈥淪ilent Night.鈥� Then the lamps are lit for the traditional processional "O Come All Ye Faithful," and the service continues with carols and scripture readings telling the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.
The choir will present the offertory anthem, "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella" arranged by Lloyd Larson. Communion is included, and all baptized Christians are welcome. The service will conclude with the final processional, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!"
The early service at 5 p.m. will be a Festival of Lessons and Carols and will include the Trinity tradition of children placing the nativity figures in the cr锚che, as well as singing "I Saw Three Ships."
Trinity Episcopal Church is located at 430 Juliana St., with multiple parking available and is handicap accessible. For more information, call 304-422-3362 or visit .